RI News

4:11 pm

Mon March 17, 2014

Cranston Police Chief Retires; Ticket Probe Ongoing

Col. Marco Palombo, Jr. released a statement announcing that he is retiring as Cranston’s chief of police. The news comes on the heels of a police parking ticket scandal.

Col. Palombo announced his retirement after 27 years with the Cranston police in a statement to the media. In it, he said he had been considering retirement for a while and is looking forward to new opportunities, including helping to solve cold cases and teaching police science.

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung placed Palombo on paid administrative leave in January while state police investigated a ticket-issuing controversy. Cranston police doled out an unusually high number of tickets in the wards of two city councilors who voted against a police contract in November. That state police investigation continues.

Mayor Fung also issued a statement saying that it was “the right thing to do” to accept Palombo’s retirement. But the mayor’s office declined to comment on the timing of Palombo’s announcement.

State police captain Kevin Barry will continue leading the Cranston police until a new chief is found.